timber lake man charged with passing counterfeit $100 bills

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Timber Lake, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Uttering Counterfeit Obligations of the United States.

Dennis Tyler Gutierrez, a/k/a Crow Shoe, age 21, was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 21, 2013. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on August 23, 2013, and pled not guilty to the indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is 20 years in custody, a $250,000 fine, or both; at least 3 years up to life of supervised release; and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.

The charge relates to an incident on July 25, 2013, when the defendant allegedly passed a counterfeit $100 bill at the Timber Lake celebration. The charge is merely an accusation and Gutierrez is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Secret Service and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikal Hanson is prosecuting the case.

Gutierrez was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.